AN: *Wanders in limping slightly* Hello, everyone. You'll be pleased to know I worked very hard to get this chapter out on time. I was working under a slight…
ASN: …Handicap.
AN: Handicap nothing! You broke my arm!!!
ASN: You asked for it, what with the comments in the last chapter.
AN: You didn't have to incapacitate me!
ASN: And I'm certain after the readers realize how short this chapter is, they'll assist me in breaking your other arm.
Chapter 30 Fathers
Artemis Sr. ushered his son up the stairs, and for one second, Artemis Jr. thought he was being taken to his study. The room with Holly in it. That would bring questions the teen was not ready to answer. Luckily, Artemis Sr. brought him to his own study.
"Artemis, as much as I wished for a happy answer like the one you fed your mother, I would prefer the truth." Artemis Sr. sat down behind his desk. "Where were you?"
Artemis Jr. had no idea how to answer that question. He studied his father blankly, who sighed.
"Angeline was listening to your story. I was watching your face. You seemed much too nervous to have just been over at a friend's house. While your mother may have passed that off as hormones, I believe that you were involved in something less than legal, and that somehow or other Simone found out. After all," and he smiled slightly, "I'm fairly certain you would not let Simone follow you to a friend's house without a fight."
Artemis Jr. nodded. "I did not go to Holly's house. However, I did meet Holly, as did Simone, Juliet and Butler. You may ask any of them. And I was not lying when I said Simone and Holly did not get along. It's quite possible Simone would not want to answer any questions you ask."
"And why did you meet Holly?" Artemis Sr. asked. While he trusted his son, he still wasn't sure what the young teen did behind his father's back.
"Holly…works for a government agency, Father. I did tell you she was a little too old for me, after all."
"So there's no school project?" Artemis Sr. asked, smiling slightly. His son, help a government employee?
"No. She and her superiors needed my technological expertise for a…rescue attempt." Artemis Jr. sighed inwardly. He doubted his father would believe this, but it was the only thing he could think of. Sometimes it was better to tell the truth. Especially when the truth sounded as believable as meeting a leprechaun and taking their gold.
The comparison brought a small smirk to the teen's face.
"A rescue attempt?" Artemis Sr. repeated.
"Yes. Juliet and Butler insisted on coming with me, and Simone ended up finding out. We had to bring her along as well. However, she was sworn to secrecy about Holly, and the agency she works for. I shouldn't even be telling you, but I know you can be trusted."
Artemis Sr. wasn't sure whether to be pleased or suspicious. He decided to settle for more questions.
"So how did the rescue go?"
"We retrieved the el-, excuse me, the corporal, successfully. He is perfectly safe, and Holly is making sure everyone's affairs are in order before she returns to her country."
"I see." There was a pause, and Artemis Jr. felt a sense of foreboding. "Can I meet this Holly?" his father asked.
"No, Father." Artemis responded immediately. "She insists that as few as possible people are in contact with her. If you should meet her, you would endanger her and her People." His father didn't notice the slight emphasis on the word 'people.'
"And Butler and Juliet can attest to this completely?"
"Yes, sir. They may try to avoid the topic at first, since it is top secret, but if you assure them you know about it, they will tell you."
"I see." his father repeated. "All right, Artemis, thank you for confiding in me. I can also ask Simone about this?"
"I would not suggest it."
"Hmm." His father's brow furrowed. "She really didn't get along with this Holly, then?"
Artemis almost told his father about Holly slapping the French girl, but decided it would not help. "No, they did not. In fact, Simone mentioned something about blocking out the whole episode."
"Well, then, I won't bother her." Artemis Sr. stood, signaling the end of the conversation. "Again, thank you for telling me, Artemis. I would have hated for you to be involved in something illegal and be caught by Simone." He smiled at his son. "After all, I can't have my only heir in prison."
"I understand." Artemis walked to the door, but stopped right before leaving. "However, Father, you do know that if I had been involved in something illegal, I would not have gotten caught."
Artemis Sr. stared at his son for a moment, then decided to pretend that he was certain the teen was joking. "Of course, son." he said lightly, waving him out the door. "Now, go talk to your mother for a minute or two. I need to get these papers in order before Mr. Badeau arrives."
The doorbell rang.
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AN: Yeah, okay, this is really, really short, and I'm sorry. It was just a good place to end. So don't hurt me.
ASN: Why ever not?
AN: If you kill me, I'll come back and haunt you. And I'll delete the story from all the computers, so the readers never learn how it ends. And it would be all…your…fault.
ASN: *Stares* Lessa, go to bed.
AN: Does this mean you're not mad anymore?
ASN: Not at the moment.
AN: …
"Artemis, why don't you run upstairs and tell Simone her father's here?" Angeline suggested.
************
Artemis walked over and gently touched Simone's arm. She moved away, then settled back down. "She seems to be soundly asleep. What did Foaly do to her to insure she would sleep for so long?"
"Trade secret." Holly muttered. She gingerly went forward and poked the sleeping girl. Simone just stayed where she was, and kept dreaming.
"This isn't good." the elf pronounced. "She's out like a light. I have no idea when she'll wake."
AN: Sorry. I couldn't find a really good part to put as a preview. That's the best I could come up with.
ASN: That's okay. They can try to puzzle out how to wake Simone while waiting for the next chapter.
AN: And no, before any of you ask, we can't just shoot her and hope her dad will go away!!
ASN: Although if you all send us enough money…